upGrading Texas Classrooms

Sterling Bank realizes how hard classroom teachers work to make a difference in the lives of their students. In appreciation for the impact teachers have on our area’s future, we are inviting Mainland Galveston County residents to help upgrade a Texas classroom by voting for their favorite teacher to receive one of ten $500 grants being given by Sterling Bank.

Voting will take place from Saturday, May 1 through Saturday, May 8 at Sterling’s new League City Banking Center at 1720 West FM 646 at the Gulf Freeway. Children and adults may cast one vote each for any K-12th grade teacher in the public or private schools in Mainland Galveston County. The ten teachers receiving the highest number of votes will receive upGrading Texas Classrooms grants. Grant recipients will be announced on May 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Banking Center.


We’ve established an upGrading Texas Classrooms fan page on Facebook to encourage voting for the many deserving teachers.

Accusations

When we're mad we sometimes accuse the target of our anger of things that they may or may not be guilty of.  In our rational moments we owe it to ourselves and to those we care about to accurately assess where blame for our anger should lie.  And, of course, apologize as circumstances indicate.

What's Your Line?

Everyone has a script.

As friends, loved ones, neighbors, colleagues, classmates, parishioners or "friends-yet-to-be-met" we need to be aware that we each have a script for our lives.  The varied scripts include:

• Academy award nominee or winner
• Great but not nominated
• Not yet ready for prime time
• Work in progress
• Jack or Jill of all trades
• Character actor
• Bit player
• Supporting cast
• Walk-on
• Waiting to be discovered
• Member of the crowd
• Specialist
• Director
• Producer
• Family member or friend of any of the players listed above

Ideally, if one of the scripts above doesn't fit, we'll create a unique role for ourselves.

Incredible Fun and Impact for $25

Though we've never met, I've connected with 12 special women across the globe during the last 13 months:

• Ernestina from Nicaragua
• Norma from Mexico
• Maria from Bolivia
• Esther from Ghana
• Janet from Nigeria
• Dolores from Peru
• Elma from Philippines
• Inocensia from Philippines
• Augustina from Ghana
• Faatali from Somoa
• Marina from Philippines
• Valentina from Ukraine

These 12 female entrepreneurs are working to improve their own lives and provide opportunities for their families. Who would ever imagine that 13 lives (theirs and mine) could be touched by investing $100 ($25 per entrepreneur)? 

My precious daughter wisely knew that I'd become intrigued with Kiva, a wonderful micro-lending organization.  Her cherished gift certificate caused me to become an avid Kiva lender and advocate.

The beauty of Kiva is that each loan amount is $25 per lender.  So, my 4 initial loans have now mushroomed to 12 because, though it's not required, I've chosen to re-lend funds each time my hard-working entrepreneurs repay.  And, because I value what this non-profit is doing, I've made small donations to cover their operating expenses.  Donating, though appreciated, is not required.

I've chosen to focus on female entrepreneurs, but want to emphasize that Kiva provides loans to women and men across the globe.

I can't imagine a more interactive, impactful $25 investment opportunity!

Broken Eggshell

It's amazing how many birds, squirrels, rabbits and raccoons we see in urban settings.  Growing up in Arkansas, I took these and many other creatures for granted.  Though I could do without the raccoons, even they are interesting to observe.  Most often, I'm delighted to see our furry and feathered neighbors scurrying about busily tending to their duties.  The rare sight of a broken eggshell on the pavement vividly reminds me that even with our best laid plans, tragedy can strike unexpectedly.  As far as we know, our furry and feathered friends just move on.  However, with our appreciation for life, we only slowly move on with the loving support of family and friends.

Family Circus Cartoon

I've often joked that I sometimes feel like one of Bil Keane's Family Circus cartoons where one of the children goes all around the yard doing countless activities on the way inside.  It's easy to see where we need to go, but there are a million distractions along the way.  Some distractions are useful and fun.  Others are irritating and a waste of time.  The challenge is choosing the distractions that make the journey better.

The Sandler Rules

I just finished reading The Sandler Rules - 49 Timeless Selling Principles and How to Apply Them adapted by David Mattson. Reading the book is like spending self-paced time with a personal sales coach. Each 4 page chapter offers practical advice and questions to apply to your own selling experience. The author beautifully illustrates the power of listening, questioning, prospecting, taking responsibility and getting decisions.  He reminds us that when the outcome is important, we don't try to do something, we do it.  And he emphasizes that a life without risk is a life without growth.